By Joseph Ametepe
"In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day"(Deuteronomy 8:16-18).
This wonderful passage of Scripture teaches us that God's goal in humbling and testing His believing people is to do good for them in the end. The children of Israel had now come to the end of the their forty-year wilderness experience. They were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Led by the Holy Spirit, Moses reminded them that their experience of being fed manna was God's way of humbling and testing them. Think of it! The people were only allowed to gather enough for each day, because any surplus would breed tiny worms and go bad. On the sixth day of the week, they gathered twice as much, because they were to rest on the Sabbath.
For forty years Israel followed the same routine. Why? It was a season of humbling and testing for Israel. Perhaps your life has been reduced to a monotonous routine of dealing with the same issues. Conflicts at work! Stress in your relationships! Living from hand to mouth! Shrinking savings! Mounting debts! Repeated visits to the doctor with the same health issue! Whatever your "routine in your wilderness," remember God may be using it to humble and test you, to do you good in the end. Draw from His strength. Depend on Him. Determine to give Him all the glory for the blessings He bestows on you.